The idea of community gardens is one that really makes my heart warm. I had a great experience at the Alice Griffith community garden. Getting off the train and walking down the street we knew that our group of white bread suburban teenagers did not fit in. We heard jeering from the locals and our group was confused. We where there to help, but the environment seemed wrong. When we did arrive to the garden we where greeted with a huge welcome, because us white boys where gonna do the dirty work. We worked diligently on getting rid of an extremely invasive weed called bermuda grass. Like What I have read in Pollan’s book Second nature it is not easy to garden. The question who is a pest and who is not is one that takes a lot of deliberation. Who are we to choose that bermuda grass is bad? Well, I could easily see that the Bermuda grass was swallowing up all of the soil surrounding the seedlings of great vegetables such as zucchini and kale.
So off to work our group went. Turning the ground and sorting out every single piece of root by hand. I think that we can call this grass a pest because it snuffs out the little seedlings, and the community benefits so much from these plants. Most people could not afford the quality of produce that comes from that garden and I think that people have the right to choose organic even if they are not able to afford organic. Community gardens such as this make it possible to open everyones mind to gardening too because they depend on volunteers to cultivate the land. The way I see is that gardening can be a great part of the development of a persons life. Like Pollan if you are exposed to the idea of cultivating the land at an early age it can become a great hobby and lively hood in the future. If only I could have had a better chance like they have at Alice Griffith.
I have a great appreciation for those who can garden organically. Like Pollan, Alice Griffith has chosen to go the route of organic gardening. They too add lady bugs to rid themselves of aphids and they hand remove all of the pesky weeds, no round up for them, and they have a fence to keep out the wild life. The work is hard though. I think that because I had little exposure myself and no appreciation for gardening as a child I cannot put forth as much effort as other people who went with me. I like the american idea of nature, but as I look more and more I find that I like the idea less and less. I belong in the city, but that does not mean that I have to be separate. Places like community gardens bring people together with nature and each other.
11 comments:
I didn't grow up gardening either, but it seems like it's in my blood now! I encourage you to keep at it! Your post makes me curious about a few things: who were the other people with you? Where is this garden? How did it come about that you were there? What is the community that benefits from the garden? And how do they benefit? What is the "American idea of nature" that you mention? And what do you like about it? Why do you like it less and less? So many questions! I'd like to know more.
Great photos, too--thanks for those. (You might want to add some tags to your post).
Educating children about the environment and their impact on it is one of the most important ways that we can help stop the further destruction of our planet. Just as Marshall alluded to, children who are exposed to nature at a young age are more likely to develop both an appreciation for it and a desire to conserve it. So I must wonder, if our current generation had been less isolated, less focused on technology, and more educated on the subject, would we have inflicted less damage than we have? I grew up in a semi-rural area of California and being so near to the elements of nature allowed me to acquire an early appreciation for all they have to offer. Despite my nearness to the earth during childhood, though, I did not learn of my effects on it until my teenage years. Why is this? My parents made sure to teach me how to interact with others, they helped me develop a healthy sense of curiosity, and they encouraged me to strive for greatness and to follow my dreams. So why didn’t they teach me more about how to respect the earth and conserve it? Shouldn’t that be one of the foremost lessons taught to children? I think so. Along with basic textbook knowledge, elementary schoolchildren should also be taught how to recycle, how to eat organically, how to garden, and what products are and are not damaging to the earth. They should also be taught further ways to lessen their impact on the planet. This, I believe, would lead to a new generation of individuals who not only care about the earth, but who are also willing to do whatever they can to preserve it.
Tiffany, you might find this book interesting. Ecological Literacy, edited by Stone and Barlow. It's filled with ideas about educating children in sustainability.
I'm working with other colleagues on how to adapt some of these ideas for college-level work. And don't be too hard on your parents; nobody taught them, either.
i have the same question that tracy seeley has - where is this garden? i also have the same compliment: great photographs! gardens are so photogenic - an image of a raised bed or plot of veggies goes a long way.
Hi Marshall,
Thanks for your post. Like Tracy, I would love to know the particulars of this community garden. Were you participating as part of a class for school?
As for Tiffany's comment, I agree that a "natural" education should start early, and I'm happy to say that in some communities, it does! Before moving to the Bay Area I lived in Ashland, Oregon. Ashland is one garden-crazy town; in summer people give away bushels of fresh produce and leave baseball-bat sized zucchinis on each others' porches as a prank. Aside from its many individual gardens, Ashland boasts a large community garden, a vibrant Farmer's Market and a thriving local agriculture. Several of the elementary and middle schools have gardens on their campuses, and teachers have woven "digging in the dirt" right into the curriculum! So take heart; communities large and small are taking the lead to redefine the fundamentals of education.
Hello Marshall, great post and lovely pictures. Are those actual pictures you took? or did you find those? I was also going to ask where is this place and why did you go. Also i would like to know how many others went with you and how long did it take for you all to clear up the garden of it's "weeds"? Also do you know if they purchased those lady bugs for 5$ like Pollan said you can? Also i see where you are going with the growing up in it, but like Prof. Seeley said, you can just keep at it and in time you'll find it easier and easier and more enjoyable. I think it's gonna be hard work, but if you really are into it, you should keep it up maybe go back again.
The garden is located near candle stick park in the Alice Griffith housing project. The status of things there is bleak. The side walks are littered with broken glass and other litter. This is no place I could imagine living, but people do live there. This is one of the reasons I was so proud to help out. Every week they sell produce to raise money for the garden which has the main goal of feeding the people of Alice Griffith. I was able to help because of USF's foreword program which i attended this year. If you are not familiar with foreword it is a three week pre orientation for incoming freshmen. We got to explore the city and help out in the communities. We also went to the farmers market at the ferry building and got to hear an information session about the market. The pictures are of the garden it self, but I am not the photographer. I would love to see more digging in the dirt in our school system. I have seen my younger cousins go through a Waldorf education where all types of creativity are harbored including the creativity of gardening. I am excited to get my hands in the dirt again this saturday!
Great post Marshall! I really enjoyed reading about your experience in the community garden. As a city kid like yourself, I too have never really been exposed to gardening except for a handful of times I helped my grandmother pick the vegetables from her small backyard garden. It's very true though, as you said, that such work is gratifying and developmental, especially if children are exposed to gardening at a young age, as was the case with Pollan- and look where his experiences took him. Also, I found it very interesting, and telling, that these community gardens you went to work at were located in a housing project. It seems as though our comfortable, middle to upper class lifestyles draw us further and further from a connection with the earth. This brings to mind the essay we read earlier in the semester regarding the African American experience following slavery. One of the main points, which seems to hold true, is that with disassociation from nature comes the estrangement of the mind. Thanks again Marshall, really enjoyed the post!
I agree with your idea of gardening bringing the city people and nature together. Like Pollan says there doesnt have to be two extremes with nature and industrialization. He brings in a middle ground with everything that he addresses. I used to garden with my parents in my front yard and backyard, I loved it! I can see why you liked it too.
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